Alfonso Soriano

efty pinch-hitter Daryl Ward as his backup? Well, Hoffpauir can also play well in the outfield, and Alfonso Soriano is still about a week away from returning, at best, while Kosuke Fukudome is 7-42 in July, and could use a rest now and again.

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lications to their teams, one likely more than the other, and to the NL Central.

The first was to Alfonso Soriano, left fielder and leadoff hitter for the Cubs, owners of the best record in baseball. A pitch from Jeff Bennett cracked the fourth metacarpal of his left hand, right around the knuckle, and he'll be out for six weeks. By chance, I once broke this same bone in my left hand playing softball, and he's going to have problems with his grip until that bone gets completely healed. My bone was broken farther down in the hand, and the fact that Soriano's break is near the knuckle should make it even harder for him to regain his grip.

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 HOUSTON DEFEATS CUBS 5-3 ON A CARLOS LEE HOME RUN AS HOUSTON TAKES SERIES

After the Cubs went 8-2 on their latest home stand which made their record at home 19-8, it seems as if they forgot how to play anywhere else.  After losing to the Astros 5-3 and losing the series, the Cubs find themselves 9-11 away from the friendly Confines.  If a team wants to find themselves in the post-season, they need to win the big games on the road.  In a series that had playoff atmosphere, both teams were out to make statements.  The Astros were louder than the Cubs according to Shawn Chaccon, who got the decision in the victory.  "One message the Cubs might get out of it is, 'We're here. We're here to compete. We're going to battle,'" Chacon said. "'It's not the team it was last year. Basically, it's going to be a tough team to beat the whole year.'"

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After another game where stranding base-runners has become a common theme, what Lou Piniella had the right words to sum up the Cubs recent slide, "Like I told my guys after the ballgame, make the other team beat you, don't just give it to them," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "You play like that and you're going to lose quite a few of them, or most of them. Anyway, it's over with. Done."

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Enjoy!1B Albert Pujols2B Chase Utlery3B David WrightSS Hanley RamirezC Geovany SotoOF Carlos LeeOF Alfonso SorianoOF Matt HolidaySP Johan SantanaSP Roy OswaltSP Jake PeavyCLOSER Billy Wagner or Bob Howry or Kerry Wood

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